McClurg's Home Remodeling Blog

It’s amazing how new countertops, backsplash and appliances along with some paint and a little tweaking can update a kitchen. The Fayetteville kitchen featured in this month’s “Project of the Month” demonstrates how a minor kitchen remodel can really transform the look and feel of a home. It’s hard to believe that this is the same kitchen. Minor changes transformed a time worn room into a stunning kitchen that looks as though it came out of the pages of a home décor magazine.

Is it time to remodel your kitchen? Chances are that if your home was built more than 30 years ago, now may be the time. Lifestyles and appliances have changed as well as kitchen products and décor. Financing home improvements today may be more feasible due to unprecedented low interest rates.

Can you imagine living without electricity? I can’t. Ever since Edison invented the light bulb, we have come to depend on electricity to meet our basic needs. Homes today are filled with electrical appliances and gadgets. Faulty wiring, receptacles, lighting and appliances, as well as overloaded systems, can create hazards in your home.

Today's guest blogger is Jayson Breckheimer, a Project Consultant specializing in Design/Build applications. Jayson has worked with the McClurg Team for a year. He previously owned and operated a home building and remodeling company for 9 years. Jayson attended SUNY Canton and has certificates in Construction Technology, Heating & Plumbing, and Electrical Construction and Maintenance, as well as an Associate Degree in Applied Science.

Kitchen islands are often the most important “work station” in a modern kitchen. Islands evolved from the standard kitchen table. In homes today, islands serve a variety of functions and add style to a kitchen. Kitchen islands can be stationary fixtures or mobile work stations where a cook can prepare a meal or store kitchen essentials.

If you are remodeling a kitchen and thinking about adding an island there will be many decisions to make. First, consider the space of your kitchen. Islands won’t work in all kitchens, in most cases, islands require 100 square feet of kitchen floor space. Second, determine how you would want to use the island. Most people will use an island for food prep and storage but other uses include dining, cooking, clean up and entertaining.

Many of our customers look to books, magazines and even HGTV, for ideas about remodeling their kitchens. Often they’ll talk to us about things they’ve seen or ask us for our thoughts about kitchen design. Here is our top 10 list of kitchen design trends that you may want to consider if you’re planning to remodel your kitchen in 2011.

We’re often asked how much should be budgeted for remodeling a kitchen? The answer, in our view, depends on what you plan to do with your home and over what time period. Some remodeling “experts” suggest your budget should not exceed a certain percent (e.g., 15 percent) of the current value of your home. While that may be a helpful guideline for someone planning to sell their home in the near future, it doesn’t apply to all situations.

If a kitchen remodeling project is in your future, planning may seem overwhelming. Most people look at magazines and showrooms but find it hard to start their project. If you feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Just take a deep breath and take your time. There’s no need to feel pressured. Some of our customers have taken a year or more planning and reviewing details before starting their remodeling project.

A laundry room can be one of the most cluttered and active rooms of a home. It should be organized to make it as efficient as possible. In addition to washing clothes, folding, ironing and sewing, a laundry room can be a space for crafts and hobbies or a home office. It can also be part of an entryway or housed in a closet.

Let’s talk storage. It’s usually not the main reason a homeowner remodels a kitchen, but it can be one of the things they enjoy most about their new kitchen. Homeowners we work with demand more and better storage space. When planning kitchen storage, think about the way you and your family use the kitchen and the items you need to store. Traditional kitchen “work zones” are areas designated for: